We are proud to be part of the Rhode Island community! Follow our blog for the latest news and occasional commentary about what’s happening at the Foundation and around our great state.

After a record-setting 2014, in which we awarded more money in grants than any year in our 99-year-history, we’re continuing our rigorous grantmaking in 2015. In the first quarter, our grants, both Foundation-directed and donor-directed, totaled more than $8 million.

Texas State Technical College’s public funding is based on the five-year earnings of its graduates. College for America at Southern New Hampshire University offers an online competency-based college education for $2,500/year.

And so on November 21, 17 business leaders joined us for an inaugural Backyard Bus Tour. Our mission: to introduce the group to a small number of growing and successful companies, to talk with passionate business owners who have found success in Rhode Island, and to hear “wow!”

Featured Post

Making science come alivePosted last weekThanks to our Carter Spark Grant, Narragansett Elementary School students just learned a lot about life around Narragansett Bay. Special education teacher Karen Festa used the grant to bring Save the Bay’s living “Bay Classroom Experience” to school.

Roger Williams' ideals come to life in scholarship recipientsPosted 3 weeks agoThe Rhode Island Foundation is sending seven high school seniors off to college with scholarships honoring Roger Williams, the state’s founding father.The four-year, renewable scholarships are through the Carter Roger Williams Initiative, which was launched last year by philanthropists Letitia and the late John Carter.

Carter fellowships inspire innovationPosted last monthThe recipients will receive $200,000 over four years to test and implement their proposals to dramatically improve life in Rhode Island thanks to the generosity of philanthropists Letitia and the late John Carter.

Introducing moves to fuel growth and expansionPosted 3 months agoWe are launching a new grantmaking opportunity, refining our strategic priorities, adopting impact targets and adding new staff positions to support work with partners, donors, nonprofits and community leaders.